City OBO raises revenues

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City’s Office of the Building Official (OBO) has posted increase in revenues in the past three years.

Cebu City Engineer Jose Marie Poblete has attributed the continuous economic growth of the city and efficiency of the office as the contributing factor in the increase.

“Daghan sad ang development nato karon, economically murag ni boom ang Cebu murag daghan ang nag-construct,” Poblete said.

In 2013, OBO earned P39,456,485.75, the highest since 2012 with P36,015, 742.03 and in 2011 with P27,333,697.12.

OBO’s income comes from the building permit, occupancy permit, mechanical permit, electrical permit, business inspected and miscellaneous income such as excavation permit, demolition permit, sidewalk enclosure permit, streamer permit and billboard/signboard permit.

Poblete said this does not mean they are already perfect in the job.

“Akong giawhag ang hingtungdan nga pirmi ba nga dili lang gyud molugak sa pag-follow up kay naa man gyud situation nga kulang ang ilang application (for the permits) nga dili ma monitor dayon madugay hinuon,” he said.

He said even if there are lots of applicants but if the process is slow, the income would also be low.

“Magkuyog gyud na sila, ang efficiency ug ang number sa application kay sa atong nakita karon sa OBO sa akong nasinati, daghan pud ang application sa una nga wala pa ma approve,” he added.

He emphasized that generating income is secondary. Its main function is to regulate and implement the National Building Code.

“Dili sad nato i-compromise ang safety sa atoang mga structures just because we want to have income. Natural nga mobayad ta og fee kay nalatid mana sa balaud pero even without the fee mando gyud na sa OBO pag see to it nga ni comply gyud ta sa safety requirement sa Building Code ug sa ato pud local ordinances,” Poblete stressed. (FREEMAN)